One Tank Trips

One Tank Trips: Nantucket

Save Money, And Still See What New England Has To Offer

Gas Price Patrol

NANTUCKET Okay, the gas prices are high, and taking long trips is really starting to put a cramp in you wallet. So what do you do? ... How about head to a beautiful island where the beaches are plentiful, towns are filled with charming homes and unique stores line pristine streets filled with centuries of history.

This destination sounds far away, but it is only a few miles off the coast of Massachusetts. Welcome to Nantucket Island.

This island provides breathtaking scenery to all its visitors and a vacation experience that will not be forgotten!

Take This Trip On A Tank:
Distance (roundtrip From Boston): 143 miles
Travel Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Gas Price: About $3/gallon
Miles Per Gallon: 15 - 20
Total Trip Cost: $22 - $29

Ferry Prices (roundtrip):
Traditional Ferry Fares
Adult: $28
Children (5-12 years old): $14.50
Children under 5 years old: Free


Visit The Beaches

Beaches are such a wonderful spot to hang out and just relax on your vacation. There are several beautiful beaches on Nantucket that will simply take your breath away. Whether you are looking to spend the day, or just a few hours, these beaches are a great way to sit back, grab a good book and soak up some sun.

If you have kids in tow, Nantucket has a fabulous beach that will entertain your entire family. At Harbor Beach, children can hang out in a nearby park and even spend some time on the playground. And most importently, there are bathrooms, showers and food services nearby. Parking at Harbor Beach is very limited, so make sure you get there early!

If you love great sunsets, Madaket Beach on the west end of Nantucket should be a scheduled stop on your trip. There are several ways to get to the beach, but jumping on a bike and cycling down a beautiful – and paved -- six-mile bike path will provide many fantastic site-seeing oportunities.

The beach is known for its heavy surf, so it is advised to keep a good eye on your kids while they are in the water. The beach is staffed with lifeguards and restaurants, food and parking are also available.


Seal Cruises

How about a seal cruise while you are on vacation? Nantucket Adventures offers boat rides to Muskeget Island -- one of the areas most remote areas -- where you can watch seals frolic, hang out and play!

Nantucket Adventures is the first and only eco-tour on the island to offer a seal-sighting guarantee.

Nantucket Adventures uses fuel efficient vessels, so their prices are slightly lower than other sea tours ($75 for adults and $50 for children 12 and under).

The company limits their passenger load to ten people, so you are guaranteed a truly personalized experience! The boat ride lasts for three hours, and not only will you spot seals, the cruise will also take you past an old shipwreck and the Tuckernuck Flats and Tuckernuck Island – also a hidden gems of the island.


Take a Tour

Ara's Tours is a very intimate one-and-a-half hour tour of the island. See some of the island's historical sights and breathtaking scenery – including waterfront homes, the Brant Point Light, the cranberry bog and the rose covered cottages of Sconset.

The tour does stop for pictures, so bring your camera! It is a good idea to book in advance so you are guaranteed a spot on the popular adventure.


How To Get There

You will need to take a ferry on your trip to Nantucket. Travelers can pick up the ferry in Hyannis, Massachusetts, and for a small fee, bikes, surf boards and wind surfers are also allowed on board the boat. Note: the ferry ride will take two-and-a-half hours, but if you want to get there sooner, a high-speed ferry is available. (Fares for the high-speed ferry are a bit higher.)

Nantucket is a spectacular island that is considered one of the most beautiful vacation destinations in the region. People from all over the world make their way to Nantucket, so what are you waiting for?

You can find links with more information on all of the above attractions to the right of your screen.


Here are some more adventures you can take while on your tip to Nantucket:

Learn how to surf with Nantucket Surfari

Sport Fishing with Captain Eldridge


To get driving directions to Hyannis, visit CBS4Boston.com's traffic page and select the "Real-Time Routing" tab.

See how other visitors to Nantucket rated their trip.

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)